True, great posting of a great match. On the other point of view, the first two sets are truly brillant aggressive clay court tennis by Mac. One of the matches that I have seen where one can see his varied brillance at its best - the first two, of course...

One of the biggest tennis myths floating around is that McEnroe choked away the 1984 RG final. He has repeated that myth several times himself, not least in his autobiography. However he despised Lendl and didn't want to give him any credit (until recently he even refused to admit that they had a rivalry), and he hasn't re-watched the match at all since playing in it. Many journalists who wrongly labelled it as one of the biggest chokes of all time, admitted that they hadn't even seen the match in full either.

It was a fantastic, high quality match with a lot of drama. Definitely one of the best quality slam finals of the open era. McEnroe didn't play that badly in the sets that he lost, but Lendl was brilliant and began to pass him mercilessly. Lendl won that match more than Mac lost it without a doubt.

One of the biggest tennis myths floating around is that McEnroe choked away the 1984 RG final. He has repeated that myth several times himself, not least in his autobiography.

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It was surely a false myth. Just watch the last three sets and tell me if McEnroe looked like he was chocking.
The chocking-thing is just a way to insult your opponent's results. Every victory is a deserved one. Especially if it was an epic victory with some fantastic tennis, such as the 1984 RG final, my favourite match of the 1981-1990 decade.

It still bothers me that McEnroe missed that sitter volley on the last point for the break, where he should have gotten it back to deuce. It must be still haunting him.
McEnroe's game fell off in the 3rd set, but McEnroe gradually started playing better again and by the 5th set, it was a dead even match and I really thought McEnroe was going to win.

at his best he would stand on the baseline, refusing to treat playing on a clay court as a clay court

i think people including him consider that final a choke because he was up 2 sets and a break and ended
up losing, all the while his game did drop off a bit

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he was 2 sets to one up with a break in the 4th set..its a common myth that mac was up 2 sets and a break in the 3rd..just like the myth that borg walked off court and straight into retirement after u.s open 1981 final..

like it has been said..the closest mac got was 5 points from victory when he missed a volley (just too long) to break lendl and would have meant mac could serve for the championship.

What a throwback in time! Great vid, and excellent commentaries (for those who understand french). The referee (Jacques Dorfmann) is great! Old school teacher type...ah ah... "the ball is out, no I said the ball is out, 2nd serve"

in 1984 mcenroe was going to play the australian open in nov/dec but withdrew cited 'injuries to shoulder' but then played in the davis cup final a week or so after..saving himself for final ??..didnt want to travel ??..really injured ??...

shame he didnt want to, or try to play in the aust open that year..likely he wouldve won that major..or an excellent chance to win it.

i bet if he had won the 84 french open..somehow he wouldve played in the aust open in nov 84 and gone for the 'grand slam'.